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Dear Holy Spirit Prep family,
We've just finished celebrating Catholic Schools Week, when we recognize the crucial role Catholic education plays in the formation of its students: a partnership of parents, teachers, and clergy all dedicated to the academic and spiritual growth of our children into successful, happy, heaven-bound men and women. I'm grateful to Archbishop Gregory for opening Catholic Schools Week with our 3rd All-School Mass of the year. This Catholic Schools Week, at the Archbishop's Education Banquet, he recognized our own Marylu Valek for her years of service to Holy Spirit Prep's students and teachers. I'm very proud of the support she provided in so many roles in our school community.
Our faculty and staff are truly something to be proud of. Their commitment to our school, to caring for our students, and advancing our Catholic mission are remarkable. At this year's Spring Gala, we will honor three of our faculty with a Cura Personalis Award. This award recognizes those faculty who have served at HSP for at least five years, have had a significant positive impact on students, parents, and colleagues, and have nurtured HSP’s Catholic identity. I invite you to nominate teachers for the award. Nominations will close on February 28.
Nominate a teacher for the Cura Personalis Award
Over the last week or so, we also hosted our second of three Open Houses during the school year, inviting inquiring families to campus to learn about the remarkable formation that happens here. Our admissions office reports that they are very happy with the families interested in joining our school community next year. They come from a wide range of Atlanta-area schools, including Christ the King, St. Catherine of Siena, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Trinity, St. Joseph's, and St. Martin's.
I will have more information to share with you about our admissions program at an upcoming coffee scheduled for February 22 and 23. At these intimate gatherings, I will have the opportunity to address the state of the school - including updates from our admissions, extracurriculars, and development programs - and discuss the discuss the strategic goals our school has been working on. I hope you'll join me for one of these morning coffees!
Sign up for a Coffee with Kyle
I want to congratulate the winners - and all of the contestants - of our recent theology competitions, the Monsignor Dillon Trivia Bowl and the Logos Bowl: Alex Guido, Isaac Summers, and Watson Casal. These annual competitions during Catholic Schools Week challenge our students in their knowledge of Scripture, theology, and Church history. Our students' ability to articulate their faith is an important part of our mission, and seeing them do it so confidently is a source of pride for me.
Finally, I want to congratulate our basketball teams as they close their regular season. They have had an astonishing series of victories this season that are a testament to their skill and to the hard work of their coaches. I look forward to successful post-season as our varsity Cougars eye a place at the GISA state tournament.
Yours in service, Kyle
All proceeds from the Spring Gala support HSP faculty's professional development and tuition assistance for their families. Sponsors at the $2,500 level and above will be invited to a sponsor party, hosted by Lorin and Matthew Middelthon at the Piedmont Driving Club on Saturday, March 25, 2017.
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
Michelangelo - $20,000 and above Sponsor • A table of 12 to the Spring Gala at Mason Art Gallery on April 29, 2017 • 2 tickets to the Sponsor Party at Piedmont Driving Club on March 25, 2017 • Premium wine at your table the night of the Gala • Recognized as the sponsor of the Curas Personalis awards • Prominent recognition in the Spring Gala communications and on Gala website • Full-page advertisement in the Spring Gala program
Leonardo da Vinci - $10,000 and above Sponsor • A table of 10 to the Spring Gala at Mason Art Gallery on April 29, 2017 • 2 tickets to the Sponsor Party at Piedmont Driving Club on March 25, 2017 • Premium wine at your table the night of the Gala • Recognized as the sponsor of teacher’s table at the Spring Gala • Recognition in the Spring Gala communications and Gala website • Half-page advertisement in the Spring Gala program
Raphael - $5,000 and above Sponsor • 4 tickets to the Spring Gala at Mason Art Gallery on April 29, 2017 • 2 tickets to the Sponsor Party at Piedmont Driving Club on March 25, 2017 • Recognition in the Gala program and on the Gala website • Complementary stay at the Four Seasons Hotel the night of the Gala
Rubens - $2,500 and above Sponsor • 2 tickets to the Spring Gala at Mason Art Gallery on April 29, 2017 • 2 tickets to the Sponsor Party at Piedmont Driving Club on March 25, 2017 • Recognition in the Gala program and on the Gala website
Fra Angelico - $1,500 and above Sponsor • 2 tickets to the Spring Gala at Mason Art Gallery on April 29, 2017 • Recognition in the Gala program and on the Gala website
If you have any questions, please contact me (dbertany@bellsouth.net) or Jen de Castro, Director of Advancement at 678-904-2811, ext. 233, or jdecastro@holyspiritprep.org. Thank you for your consideration of this request and - more importantly - your support of Holy Spirit Prep.
Learn more at HSPGala.org
For donations made in 2016, the advancement office sent acknowledgement and tax letters as we received your gift. If you require a new copy of your acknowledgment/tax letter, please do not hesitate to contact Denise Gunderson in the Advancement office (dgunderson@holyspiritprep.org or 678.904.2811, ext. 261). Thank you for your support of HSP!
We are grateful for the success of Monsignor Dillon's heart surgery last week, and want to invite you to continue praying for his recovery and rehabilitation over the coming weeks. Monsignor Dillon is home now, under the care of his sisters, and looking ahead to the all of his follow-up appointments.
If you would like to send Monsignor Dillon a card, you may send it to the parish office: Holy Spirit Catholic Church 4465 Northside Drive, NW Atlanta, GA 30327
This spring, at the Spring Gala and Gala Sponsor Party, Holy Spirit Prep will honor three HSP faculty members with a Cura Personalis award, and we invite our parents and faculty to nominate members of our faculty for the award. The Cura Personalis Award honors full-time faculty members who embody cura personalis - care for the whole person, heart and mind, body and soul. Award winners are full-time faculty who have:
Each year, the awards honor one faculty member from the Lower School, one faculty member from the Upper School, and one faculty member from either HSP’s exceptional learning program or the Preschool. Because we honored the faculty of our Preschool program last year, this year we will recognize our exceptional learning faculty. Previous winners include: 2016 winners
2015 winners
Past recipients will not be eligible for this year's awards. Please submit your nominations by Tuesday, February 28. You may nominate a faculty member in just one category, or up to all three categories. Eligible faculty include:
Lower School Joana Dutcher Karen Fickett Esther Francis Donna Hayley Laura Linkous Kelly Martin Kathy Nixon Theresa Sequeira Cindy Whelan Virginia Wilson Upper School Jessica Askins Tommy Curtin Archie Deen Kevin Evans Karen Jimenez Jamie Reger Matthew Reger Rochelle Rondeau David Rosenzweig Scott Schreiber Jill Stedman Heather Triggs Exceptional Learning Michelle Bertany Ellen Grisham
Congratulations to the winners of our theology contests! During Catholic Schools Week, we challenge our students in their knowledge of Scripture, doctrine, and Church history at the Lower School's Monsignor Dillon Trivia Bowl and the Upper School's Logos Bowl.
This year's winners are: Alex Guido (K-4), Isaac Summers (5th-6th), and Watson Casal (Upper School).
The K-4 competition went into a showdown between Alex and runner-up Olivia Casal, who exhausted the questions from the 4th grade list, tackling 6th grade questions in their final rounds.
The Upper School competition, too, went several additional rounds under the direction of Theology chair Tom Cole in his first time at the helm of the competition. Watson Casal and runner-up Anna Neligan duked it out through round after round, including a 4th round on "Lists of the Church" that knocked out every single competitor. Their competition came down to a tie-breaker question on locating quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
We are very proud of Mrs. Marylu Valek, who was recognized for her service to Catholic education by Archbishop Gregory during his annual Education Banquet.
Marylu has been a part of the Holy Spirit Prep community for over 13 years, since enrolling her daughter, Erin ('12), in 2003. She has served the school in many capacities, including as library aide, Lower School office manager, and her current position as Executive Assistant to the Head of School.
For over thirteen years, Marylu has labored behind the scenes to support our students and faculty, quietly and without calling attention to herself. Mr. Pietrantonio shared his gratitude for Marylu's years of committed service, "in each and every role, Marylu has devoted herself tirelessly and passionately to the work at hand. Her attention to detail, patience, and commitment to the school are beyond reproach. She truly has one of the most beautiful servant's hearts I've ever known."
A number of other faculty and staff were recognized for their service to Holy Spirit Prep, during HSP's All-School Mass on Monday, January 30. Each year, the school recognizes those members of the faculty and staff who have served the school for three, five, and ten years. This year's recognition went to:
Cindy Whelan Gloria Narea Victoria Jones David Labbe
Kelly Martin Laura Linkous Emily Maranville Judy Goyer Kathy Nixon Theresa Sequeira Clara Olguin
Christopher Opperman Kettia Jasmin Timothy Durski Thomas Clements Michael Karafotias
The prayer intentions below have been compiled by the volunteers of Connections for Women and Cougars Care. Please consider adding the following intentions to your prayers:
ROMA! 2017 Wednesday, February 8, 2017, 6:00 - 8:30p.m. Upper School Gym
Buy your tickets to Roma!
Help the senior class make their annual trip to Rome! Roma is hosted by the senior class, who assemble a night of auctions, an Italian dinner, and musical entertainment by Lower and Upper School students to raise money for their capstone trip in May.
One of the most anticipated features of the evening is the Senior Servant Auction. Seniors will advertise their various talents, everything from yard work and babysitting to tutoring younger students, car washing, and house painting. Roma guests have the opportunity to bid on the seniors. Winning bidders will have a chance to utilize their Senior Servant on Senior Service Day in April. Questions? Feel free to contact Thomas Cole at tcole@holyspiritprep.org
Tickets are on sale in advance for $10 per person; $50 maximum per family. Tickets will be sold at the door for $15 per person; $75 maximum per family. Cash or check only at the door please.
Next Monday, we are excited to welcome Special Olympics athlete and ambassador Breanna (Bree) Bogucki to the Upper School to share with the Junior High her story of Olympic competition and living life with autism. The presentation will take place in the gym for our junior high students from 10:20-11:15am. Parents are invited to attend.
Breanna (Bree) Bogucki is a Special Olympics athlete and Global Messenger. Bree has been a Special Olympics Illinois athlete for the past 10 years and a Global Messenger since 2014. She began participating in Special Olympics when she was 9 years old and has competed in Rhythmic Gymnastics, Artistic Gymnastics, Volleyball, Basketball, Softball and most recently Powerlifting. As a Global Messenger, Bree helps foster awareness and advocacy for the Special Olympics movement. She volunteers her time by singing for and participating in Special Olympics’ fundraising events. While educating others on the benefits of becoming a Special Olympics athlete, Bree hopes to spread awareness on all that those with intellectual disabilities can achieve. She hopes the world will not focus on their challenges, but see the person for who they really are and all they can contribute to society.
Coffees with Kyle: The State of the School February 22 and 23 8:15am-9:00am Reese Memorial Library at the Upper School
Sit down with Mr. Pietrantonio over coffee to discuss the state of the school. Mr. Pietrantonio will discuss a number of topics, including admissions, extracurriculars, and the strategic goals the school has been working on.
Varsity girls and boys basketball closed their regular season this Tuesday with a final matchup against Weber School. JV boys opened the night with a solid 46-22 victory. Varsity girls kept the night going with a 54-9 win against Weber girls, finishing second in region play. Varsity boys closed the night with a 72-39 win, finishing first in region play.
Varsity now prepares for their region tournament, hosted at Loganville Christian next week. Their projected game schedule is:
See the GISA tournament bracket
Girls 2/14, 5:30pm 2/16, 7:00pm 2/17, 7:00pm
Boys 2/16, 5:30pm 2/17, 8:30pm
Admission to GISA tournaments is $10 for adults and $5 for students.
Varsity basketball also celebrated senior night, honoring the 12th-graders playing their last season game, including:
The basketball teams used senior night to collect shoe donations for StandUp For Kids, a nonprofit outreach supporting homeless and at-risk children.
It is that wonderful time of year when soccer registration opens! After seeing great progress in the fall, we are looking forward to continuing to grow and shine on the soccer field this spring.
Please click the link below and register for soccer this spring: https://holyspiritprep.org/Athletics/NewsDetails.aspx?id=477
Practice days will most likely mirror the Fall, however, the official practice schedule will be released closer to the season, when the number of teams are determined. Practices will start the week of February 13th, and will be once a week straight after school.
Games will be on Saturdays and Sundays. The CMLA season will start on the weekend of March 4th; however, as that is over our spring break, games for HSP teams will start the weekend of March 18.
We are extremely excited for this up coming season. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Coach Sam Walker. We are always looking for coaches and volunteers.
Happy Chinese New Year! On January 27, our Preschool and Upper School got together to have a parade!
Friday, February 24 8:30am Upper School Library
6th grade families are invited to join Mrs. Sotomayor for Upper School 101. This is an event for 6th-grade parents about your student transition to the Upper School next year. This is an exciting time and Mrs. Sotomayor would like to share with you some ideas on how to make the transition as easy as possible. Some topics we will discuss are:
Please mark your calendars and bring your questions.
Attention all rising 7th-12th grade parents - Upper School course registration for the 2017-2018 school year is just around the corner! Online course registration forms will become active through PlusPortals on Friday, February 17.
When the forms become active next Friday, parents will receive a detailed email outlining how to access your student’s registration form and the 2017-2018 Upper School course catalog, in addition to who to contact for academic advising based on your student’s grade level.
If you have any questions regarding course registration after reviewing the activation email and corresponding material, please contact Miss Rachel Little, Registrar, at rlittle@holyspiritprep.org. We look forward to kicking off the registration with you next week!
The initial deadline to order senior ads has now passed. Ads are available for purchase until Tuesday, February 28, at an increased price. As our senior class gears up for their farewell to HSP, we want to invite you to order a senior ad in the 2016-17 yearbook. This is your opportunity to send your seniors off with loving messages and photos that they will be able to look back on forever.
How to Order a Senior Ad This year, we've partnered with Herff Jones to produce our yearbook, including our senior ads. You'll use their online portal to pick the size of your ad, design your ad (including photos and messages), and pay for your ad. At the website, YearbookOrderCenter.com, you'll:
Your work will be auto-saved, and you can work on it over several sessions. With any questions about ordering yearbook ads, please contact our yearbook advisor, Tim Durski, at tdurski@holyspiritprep.org.
For current Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors:
Interested in learning about Wilderness Survival, First Aid, Navigation, Mountaineering, and Horsemanship, and then putting all that into practice during a 5-day rugged excursion through the Wyoming mountain ranges this summer? Then learn about Adventure Mission Corps and how you can apply for this life-changing experience.
Download the info guide
This adventure takes place in Wyoming from July 1-July 12. Candidates will receive advanced classroom and field training prior to an excursion through the Teton Mountain Range, culminating in a Peak Ascent by foot. They are expected to participate, pray, play, and persevere. Candidates should be between ages 15-21, able to endure the physical rigors of extended outdoor activity and climate changes, and open to discussing and sharing their Christian faith in a Catholic environment.
HSP students are invited to attend (or volunteer for) Holy Spirit’s Vacation Bible School this summer from July 10-14 from 9am-noon daily. This year’s theme is “Tracking Mary: Mysteries and Messages”. Campers will get a ticket to “track” Mary all over the world. With stops in France, Portugal, Mexico, Ireland and England, campers will discover how Mary brings us closer to Jesus through the power of the Rosary. Registration will open on April 1 for campers aged 3 (potty trained) through rising sixth grade. Rising seventh graders through twelfth graders are invited to volunteer in a number of different exciting service opportunities (service hours provided). More information coming soon.
Questions or interested in volunteering? Contact Julie Buckley at jbuckley@hsccatl.com